Team Gilbert is seeking a Parks & Recreation Director to lead our Parks & Recreation department, consisting of 120 full time and over 250 part-time and seasonal employees providing first-class aquatics, recreation, parks, special events, and sports programs. The team has earned national recognition for innovation in parks and recreation programming, with multiple state and national awards and accolades for community engagement and facility excellence. Gilbert Parks & Recreation is proud to have been named a 2025 NRPA Gold Medal Finalist, while maintaining its CAPRA accreditation. Reporting to an Assistant Town Manager and guided by the Parks & Recreation Master Plan, the Director establishes a vision for parks and recreation services and oversees a $1.3 billion, 10-year parks capital improvement program.

Our ideal candidate is an inspiring and genuine leader who can provide a strong vision to meet strong community demand for parks and recreation services. They will be a strong communicator who can motivate others through a common vision, build partnerships, and execute a vision for the future. They will do all of this while creating an engaging, supportive environment for our current and future team members to grow, develop, and flourish.

Read the full job description here. 

View the recruitment brochure slideshow in a new tab here.

Proposed Recruiting Timeline:

• Posting Opens: 9/19/25
• Posting Closes: 10/12/25
• One Way Virtual Video Invitations Sent: 10/16/25
• Virtual Video Submission Deadline: 10/20
• In-Person Interview Invites Sent: 10/27
• In-Person Interviews: 11/12, with possible follow-up the morning of 11/13
• Anticipated New Hire Start Date: 12/8/25

You are a forward-thinking problem solver who is mission-driven and passionate about serving your local community, creating exceptional recreational experiences, and developing the workforce of tomorrow. You are a strong servant leader capable of unifying and motivating a skilled workforce, working collaboratively across the organization by being a strategic partner, and putting Gilbert in a position for long-term success. You understand the vital role parks and recreation plays in building healthy, connected communities and are excited to steward significant capital investments while maintaining operational excellence. You must not only embody our core values of being driven, kind, bold, and humble but also meet the following qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Parks & Recreation, Public Administration, or related field; Master's degree preferred.

10+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience in a public agency, including a minimum of 5 years of management within a dynamic parks and recreation operation.

Any equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the knowledge and abilities necessary to perform the work.

Preferred Certifications:

Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP)

Gilbert, AZ is one of the fastest-growing communities in the United States. With a population of nearly 293,000 people, Gilbert has been named the Most Prosperous City in the Country, Best Place to Live, Work and Play, and Arizona's Most Admired Companies to Work For. Our Parks & Recreation system is a crown jewel of our community, featuring award-winning facilities, innovative programming, and a commitment to excellence that has earned national recognition, including our recent designation as a 2025 NRPA Gold Medal Finalist and maintained CAPRA accreditation.

Our mission is to be the City of the Future, and we are committed to innovation and excellence in all that we do. Join us in shaping the next chapter of Gilbert's recreational legacy through our ambitious $1.3 billion, 10-year capital improvement program that will transform how our community plays, connects, and thrives.

Gilbert is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. If any reasonable accommodation is needed while participating in the application and interviewing process, please contact our People Team (Human Resources) at 480-503-6823. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.

Gilbert provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.